Here's the inside scoop on Christmas night from the innkeeper himself.
He's known as the innkeeper but prefers to just be the barkeep. Although Hadad is thrilled with a packed inn and thirsty customers he is not the lest bit interested in a knock on the door past closing.
He knew it was a mistake to open the door.
A dusty traveler, a droopy donkey and a very pregnant woman.
"Follow me," he moans and leads out back to the barn.
"A stinking stable, this must be a joke." Joseph protests
"Anyplace, Joseph, anyplace." Mary managed to say.
The crusty barkeep bids goodnight, but life changes he begins to cherish this little boy and industrious family who disappear on the day of the slaughter of baby boys by Roman soldiers. Hadad fears the worst. When rumors fly, Hadad wonders if any of it matters at all. Will he seek the truth? Will you?
Excerpt
Chapter Nine - The Manger
“Hadad, where are you?”
Me thinks Beatrice might have a thing or two for me to do.
“I’m busy.”
“With what?”
“I’ll be right back.”
I wouldn’t be right back, but my words would tame her.
I started toward Jared’s…
“Hadad! Don’t go anywhere. I need you to clean the stable.”
“What! Clean the stable? For what?”
“We have travelers with animals.”
“So? A stable is a stable. I built the overhang like you suggested.”
“Yes you did, but we need fresh hay, and the stable must be presentable. And we could charge a little extra for boarding their animals if the stable looks like something.”
She had a point.
I spent the rest of that day in that stable.
It had been a long time,
it was disgusting.
Alright already, she had had a good point.
“Where do you want this?” The skinny boy startled me.
I turned to see a small wagon with two bales of hay stacked high.
“Where do you want this?”
“I heard you. There,” I said.
Beatrice never stops.
But we did need the hay.
After one bale was spread I divided the other.
Half in the pen.
The other I dumped in the manger,
which was a mistake.
It tipped over and one leg broke off.
I went to pick it up, but it fell apart in my hands.
That will have to wait.
“Hadad, don’t forget to clean out the manger, and fill with fresh hay.”
Perhaps I could do it today after all.
All this fuss with who knows what to expect.
I needed to get to my bar.
To do something important.
Anything but stay in this god-forsaken stable.
The manger was past repair.
I, not the handiest man in town, did not know what to do.
We will just have to do without.
But that wouldn’t do with Beatrice.
Jared will have a solution.
“Jared. Jared. Are you here?”
“Yes of course my friend. What can I do for you?”
“You can help me find a manger or build one or something.”
“Hadad just go to Ira and get a new one.”
“I don’t need a new one, Jared. I just need one for a month or so. Why go to the expense of a new one?”
“Where do you think you will find a used manger? Nobody gives away used mangers; they use them for fire wood. Just go see Ira.
“Alright already. See you later then.
I will see you later?”
“Yes, of course.”
Jared was right, I should have thought of that, but Ira is expensive. With lots of work no doubt. The only carpenter in town.
“Ira, Ira, oh, you look busy.”
“Hadad, I’m swamped. I hope you don’t want a manger.”
“Well, that’s exactly what I want, need.”
“I have orders coming out of my ears. Everybody’s in a panic to have their stables and
pens ready for the travelers.”
“What am I to do?”
“Tell you what. Take that little one there. I made it up for Jachin and Birsha.”
“They won’t need it?”
“Don’t know. I told them it was too little in the first place. Now they haven’t been back. Just take it. A loan till I can make you a new one. I know it’s small, but it will just have to do. Perhaps you could lose my tab at the tavern for awhile”
“Tab? What tab? It will do just fine, for awhile. No hurry on the other then. Thanks.”
It will do just fine. Wait’ll I tell Jared.
A borrowed manger.
Perfect.
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